Working Title

He peered thru my soul, not with a look or even a word but with a laugh, a laugh of one either on the edge of or one deeply involved in pure lunacy. A complex array of emotion displayed in this vibration of what was and what was to be. A tall grey man aged not by time but by life, he wore an old flannel jacket even in the summer with an old ragged pair of blue jeans that looked older than he did. I could say nothing else about this man with any degree of certainty other than one fact, he made first contact.1

I stood in front of the old brick building for a few minutes thinking about what it was I was doing exactly. I couldn’t figure out how this had all happened it was so fast, but Mello needed my help so what could I do? I’ve just keep trucking and hope I make it out alive. I walk to the old wood door a tall man in a suit is waiting there, “Can I help you?” he asks as if my very presence offends him. “Y-Yes,” I clear my throat as if I am hacking out my fear “I have an appointment”. He pulls a list from seaming no where , something like a very scary magician, and says “Name?”. I jolt a little surprised by the question “Y Matsi ”. “What’s the L for?” he snaps back. “Yow” I answer a little offended, but in reality I’m more frightened that he won’t believe me. He stairs at the list then back at me “He’s in the second door on the right” he opens the door. I’m in!2

I open the door and immediately I hear that cackle. “Ya ya, you can give me the number but you know I wont call him.,,,,,, HAHAHAHahahaha. Wait here’s your boy now, ya… ya .. ya I got ta.. haha ya I got to go now. Ya…. Ya bye …. Ok bye.. BYE!” He slams the phone on the desk and looks at me “Come on in kid, that was your boss,” He wasn’t really my boss but as far as he knew I owed him my life “he wants me to call his tailor but I told him that ware what I ware for a reason”. I ask him quickly “And why is that?” He seams a bit surprised that I would ask him “Well son, can I call you son?”3

“Sure”4

“Son, if you saw me on the street dressed like this would you give me a dollar?”5

“Only if you asked, I wouldn’t want to insult a man no matter how bad he looks.”6

“Would you ever think I am who I am?”7

“Not a chance.”8

“And nether would a cop.”9

He smiled for a moment then let out that soul penetrating laugh. I smile back a little surprised and just a little perplexed.